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Keyboard shortcuts change for bookmarks(Open bkmark in new tab=Ctrl w and not Ctrl t). Can I conform all shortcuts?

  • 3 replies
  • 5 have this problem
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  • Paskiausią atsakymą parašė David McRitchie

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When I open a link into an new tab using keyboard shortcuts I use (Ctrl+t), but when I want to open a bookmark (in the toolbar) I have to use (Ctrl+w) to open it in a new tab. When I press (Ctrl+t) to open a bookmark, it cuts the bookmark out. So I have to paste it back in (Ctrl+p). Opening a tab in a new Window is: (Ctrl+ n) instead of (Ctrl+w).

Can I conform the keyboard control combinations or do I just have to get used to the change?

When I open a link into an new tab using keyboard shortcuts I use (Ctrl+t), but when I want to open a bookmark (in the toolbar) I have to use (Ctrl+w) to open it in a new tab. When I press (Ctrl+t) to open a bookmark, it cuts the bookmark out. So I have to paste it back in (Ctrl+p). Opening a tab in a new Window is: (Ctrl+ n) instead of (Ctrl+w). Can I conform the keyboard control combinations or do I just have to get used to the change?

All Replies (3)

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You can probably change that with the Keyconfig extension, if you can figure out the correct command to add. But changing New Tab to T and disabling the Cut function there might mess up "Cut" elsewhere in Firefox. (Never tried that, so it is purely speculation on my part.)

When I want to open a bookmark in a new tab, I use Middle-click on the mouse or {Ctrl + Click} from the keyboard.

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Keyconfig won't install to my firefox (3.6.13) :(

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You can use the same keyboard shortcuts to open a bookmark or history item in a new tab as you use to open a link in a new tab, but it may be necessary to change an about:config preference.

browser.tabs.loadBookmarksInBackground Boolean

Focus behavior of new tabs from bookmarks & history
True: When you open a bookmark in a new tab then that tab will load in the background without taking focus from the current tab.
False (default): When you open a bookmark in a new tab then that tab will become the current tab.
Note: you likely want to set this to same setting value as used in browser.tabs.loadInBackground (Bug 469456)

Depending on how browser.tabs.loadInBackground is set via Tools > Options > Tabs > [X] When I open a link in a new tab switch to it immediately

If check-marked: (if not check-marked switch the two shortcuts)

  • "Ctrl+Shift+click" opens in a background tab (I use this the most), easy to press two keys with left thumb while using mouse in right-hand.
  • "Ctrl+click", opens in a foreground tab

Preserving my globally (system) set middle-click to "Enter" is an ongoing battle with Firefox to be able to maintain efficiency, which I need from location bar, dialogs, text composition, etc.


Your question and what you say you use are not valid, here are corrections:

  • "Ctrl+T", opens a new tab -- not a link
  • "Ctrl+Shift+T", reopens a closed tab -- showing here because it relates to "Ctrl+T"
  • "Ctrl+W", closes a tab -- does not open a bookmark
  • "Ctrl+V", is used to paste
  • "Ctrl+P", is Print

I've used keyconfig on every Fx3+ production release, but that is not the answer to your problem. You really don't want to mess with the Firefox shortcuts, try to limit changes to those of extensions that conflict with one another. I figure that any extension that usurps a Firefox keyboard shortcut is poorly written by someone who doesn't even use Firefox well and I generally uninstall it. Same for extensions that require several keyboard shortcuts.

keyconfig has sortable columns and can be sorted on the shortcut, for instance.

Keyboard Shortcuts:

Tabbed Browsing: